Erstellt am: 4. 10. 2012 - 15:47 Uhr

Syria: a dangerous escalation

Reality Check: Syria-Turkey, Iran currency devaluation, US Presidential debate, "More than Shelters", Guantanamo prisoners return home to Bosnia.

The conflict in Syria is taking a dangerous turn. A Syrian shell hit the Turkish border town of Akcakale, killing 5 people - and Turkey is retaliating with artillery fire.

In a way, it's nothing new. Conflicts spill over borders, intentionally or not, all the time. There have already been a few incidents already on the Syria Turkey border - but what makes this one different is that this time, people died. What makes it even more potentially dangerous is that Turkey is a member of NATO, and an attack on any one member can be seen as an attack on all members.

However, while Turkey is acting indignantly and wasting no time in firing back, it's unlikely it will try to invoke the power of NATO. Just in case Turkey might think about it, NATO would be the first to try and and talk them out of it. The last thing the western powers need at the moment is a military operation against Syria. They all seem to be hoping that if they look the other way, tacitly support the rebels from outside the country, and make regular tutting noises, eventually the problem will go away.

Of course, the problem won't go away. As long as Assad hangs on to power, the conflict will continue. If he steps down, a power vacuum ensues, and the violence continues, much as it has done in Libya.

Turkey has no real interest in an escalation of the crisis - they already have enough trouble handling the current stream of refugees, without making it worse.

As international security expert, Paul Rogers, told Hal Rock, while Turkey feels it has to react strongly, and it would dearly love to see the back of Assad, it's unlikely to rock the boat far enough to push the Syrian crisis over the edge and start a regional conflict.

• Iranians protest over currency crisis

Riot police have clashed with protesters in Tehran as the value of the Rial plummets. Rosemary Hollis analyses the economic crisis in the country and the popular response.

• US Presidential Debate

Mitt Romney did better than expected in the first of the televised debated between the presidential candidates - but there's still a long way to go. Simon Marks reports on the Denver debate.

• More than Shelters

Artist and architecht Daniel Kerber talks about his revolutionary "More than Shelters" project, which is helping improve living conditions for refugees around the world.

• Guantanamo's prisoners from Bosnia

The men who were taken to Guantanamo from Bosnia as terror suspects, and released 7 years later, talk about the problems they have faced on returning to their homeland.

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